Whether you are a patient or visitor at West Hills Hospital & Medical center, we want your experience with us to be as pleasant as possible. We have provided helpful information to help you during your stay or while visiting a patient in the hospital.

Screening Tests

Urine dip—This test is often done in your doctor’s office. A dipstick coated with special chemicals is dipped into the urine sample. Areas on it change color to indicate the presence of blood, pus, bacteria, or other materials. This is a quick, general test.

Microscopic urinalysis—The urine is examined under a microscope for the presence and quantity of materials such as red blood cells, white blood cells (pus), and bacteria. This is a more accurate way to diagnose a urinary tract infection.

Screening Guidelines

There is no consensus as to whether healthy people should be screened for UTIs. At this point, it is common practice to regularly screen pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Some doctors also screen patients with diabetes for UTIs.

In fact, urine dip tests and urinalysis are frequently done as screening tests for conditions other than UTIs, such as during well-child check-ups and other routine adult physical exams.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Urinary tract infections in adults. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/
. Published May 24, 2013. Accessed August 22, 2013.